Homily for Good Friday and Other Materials for your Meditation and Prayer

Hello Friends,

Here is a series of things that you may find helpful for today, Good Friday. I would suggest Franco Zeffirelli’s film Jesus of Nazareth for viewing over these next days–it is several hours of viewing, but so very well done–you can find it, I think, on Netflix. Have peace these days in the knowledge that our God loves us so much! –Pastor Kathy

Friends, the following document is what I would use to preside so that you will have all the prayers–

Good Friday Service

prostrate—in silence as we begin before the cross

Opening Prayer—Loving Creator, today we remember with gratitude Jesus’ suffering and death for us. He was willing to give the final measure because of his love for us. Give us the strength and deep love necessary to be his instruments for peace, justice, mercy, goodness and love in our world. We ask this in Jesus’ wonderful name, with you and the Spirit, One God, living and loving us forever and ever—Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

Isaiah 52:13—53:7

Hebrews 4:14-16; 5: 7-9

Passion Reading—John 18:1—19:42

Homily

Friends, if we were together today in our liturgical space, we could hardly miss the starkness of this day—the space would cry out with the bareness—no candles, no altar coverings, no liturgical drapes. We are truly a bereft people on this day that marks the earthly, physical death of our brother, Jesus. This is the way that any of us feels when a loved one dies—bereft, sad—somewhat lost, even though we have come to call the Memorial Services we do for deceased, loved ones, “Celebrations of Life.” The Church asks us to hold off on the celebration for a day or two and steep ourselves for a bit on what it is like to be without Jesus in our lives.

John’s gospel is always used on Good Friday because it gives us a different focus than the other accounts from Matthew, Mark and Luke. We remember from Palm Sunday and Luke’s passion account that his focus was placed not so much on the detail of the suffering, but more on its meaning for each of us as depicted in Paul’s reading to the Philippians—“his state was divine, yet he did not cling to it, but became as each one of us.”

In John’s account today, we simply heard Jesus say, in regard to his own personal needs, “I am thirsty.” His concern isn’t for himself but for his apostles—that they would be set free. When he does die, he simply, “gives up his spirit.” We very much get the impression that John is trying to give; of Jesus being in control of all that is happening to him. He had the power to avail himself to what would be asked of him and he accepted his fate with no complaint. As Isaiah said in the first reading; he did not cry out, even though he was badly abused.

Even with all the suffering Jesus was asked to bear, we see only the silence with which he carried himself, so the silence built into today’s service is very appropriate. Isaiah gives the truth to this notion as well—“You were like a lamb led to slaughter and didn’t open your mouth.” John’s account does not include the purely human moments of the Last Supper or the agony in the garden. John shows us Jesus as one who suffers, yes, but one who is truly the high priest spoken of today in the letter to the Hebrews—one who stands with us and loves us in all our weaknesses, continually calling us to more.

John’s purpose it would seem is to let us know that Jesus freely accepted his death and did not struggle against it—he lived his human existence constantly showing us how we must live and accepted the consequences in his time for living a life demanding justice for all.

The evangelist further tells us that because Jesus freely chooses death, he can just as freely choose life—the new life of the resurrection. This is our hope in Jesus— to one day do the same. In this spring-time of year, even though the snow insists on being with us!—the idea of resurrection is one we can get our hearts around—out of the cold and damp ground comes so much life.

The Holy Thursday liturgy talked about gratitude being our response to our God for loving us so much in Jesus and that really continues to be our response today. It calls to mind again, Paul’s letter to the Philippians—he was God, but did not hold onto that, but became human and took upon his shoulders our existence, for no other reason, but love. We can be sure that Jesus, our brother, during this time of crisis in our country and world, is very much walking with us!

And for that reason, one can hardly walk through Holy Week and not come out on the other side believing anything but that we are loved by God. We can all stand before our loving God unafraid because of Jesus—one who came among us and was so morally perfect, coming to be one with us, living by example what each of us is called to. He only asked that we would follow in his footsteps. Sometimes that can feel daunting, but we must always remember that we will not have to do it alone—Jesus will be with us and knowing that takes my fear away—I hope it does yours as well. After today—we begin walking toward Easter joy—this is our hope—because of Jesus; we all will have new and everlasting life.

Several from our community as well as others not from this community, but of our hearts have completed their life journeys this past year. Some reading this perhaps know of victims of Covid 19. May they all rest in peace now as we all look forward one day to that eternal life that Jesus opened up for each of us due to his life, death and resurrection. And we continue our prayers for all those who are completing their life journeys at this time and for their families. May they and each of us know peace and many blessings today and always. Amen? Amen!

General Prayers for the Church

Response: “Because of Jesus, have mercy on us loving God.”

For the Church—For our Church throughout the world that God, our Creator would guide it and gather it together so that we may praise God in peace and tranquility, we pray, Response: “Because of Jesus, have mercy on us loving God.”

For the Pope—For Francis, our pope that God may give him health and strength to guide and govern your holy people with truth, love, compassion and mercy, we pray, Response:

For the Clergy and Laity of the Church—For our bishops, Nancy and John and all bishops, priests and laity who minister to the People of God, we pray, Response:

For Those Preparing for Baptism—For those within our Church preparing for baptism that our Merciful God would make them responsive to Jesus’ love, let them be born again in the waters of new birth and give them life in Jesus, the Christ, our Brother and Friend, we pray, Response:

For the Unity of Christians—For all who profess belief in Jesus the Christ, ourselves included—teach us and show us the way Jesus to truly live your command, “that we would all be one,” we pray, Response:

“Because of Jesus, have mercy on us loving God.”

For our Jewish Brothers and Sisters—For our Jewish sisters and brothers, the first to hear the word of God, that they and we may continue to grow in the love of Jesus, himself a Jew, and that we may all grow in faithfulness to the covenants our God has made with us throughout time, we pray, Response:

For Those Who Do Not Believe in Christ—For those who do not believe in Christ, that the light of the Spirit may show them ways to fulfillment, we pray, Response:

For the Other Great Religions of the World—For those who belong to the other great religions of the world, that all would be inspired and brought to fulfillment, we pray, Response: “Because of Jesus, have mercy on us loving God.”

For All in Public Office—For all those in public office, that God may guide their minds and hearts, so that all people may live in true peace and freedom, we pray, Response:

For Those in Special Need—That our loving God may heal the sick, comfort the dying, give safety to travelers, free those unjustly deprived of liberty, and rid the world of all abuse, hunger and disease. Hear the prayers of all who call on you in any trouble—give them your strength, peace, love and joy, we pray, Response:

Veneration of the Cross

“Were You There?”

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?